The Seamstress 

Eugene de Blaas painted this scene of a seamstress and her admirer using oil on canvas. Here, the manipulation of oil paint allows for a high level of detail and realism, bringing the intimate scene to life. The artist’s process emphasizes a refined, academic approach, yet the painting depicts a subject engaged in a form of labor - sewing - usually unacknowledged within the realm of fine art. The seamstress, a working woman, is captured in a moment of domesticity, her craft intertwining with her personal life. De Blaas was engaging with the aesthetic of realism, portraying the material realities of everyday life. His focus isn’t on grand historical narratives but on the quiet dignity of labor, complicating the traditional hierarchy between the fine and applied arts. It prompts us to think about the skill and work involved in all kinds of making.